Engines · piston (reciprocating) · data as of October 9, 2026

Lycoming O-320 series

27,315 aircraft on the U.S. register carry a Lycoming O-320 series engine, rated at about 180 horsepower. The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is the model most often fitted with it (9,462 aircraft). The aircraft carrying it were built between 1949 and 2026.

The FAA records engines by code, usually at the level of a series ("O-320 series") rather than the exact variant; this page gathers every FAA code that reads as Lycoming O-320 series (2 codes). FAA spellings: 0-320 SERIES · O-320 SERIES.

Fitted to model families

Model families, as a table

	aircraft
Cessna 172 Skyhawk	9,462
Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow	6,844
Piper PA-18 Super Cub	2,393
Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer and Colt	1,660
Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5 Traveler, Cheetah and Tiger	566
Bellanca 7 Citabria	563
Cessna 177 Cardinal	398
Piper PA-23 Apache and Aztec	347
Robinson R22	276
Champion 7 Citabria and Champ	266
American Champion Aircraft 7 Citabria and Champ	249
Piper PA-12 Super Cruiser	149

Cessna 172 Skyhawk · Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow · Piper PA-18 Super Cub · Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer and Colt · Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5 Traveler, Cheetah and Tiger · Bellanca 7 Citabria · Cessna 177 Cardinal · Piper PA-23 Apache and Aztec · Robinson R22 · Champion 7 Citabria and Champ

Where they are owner's state

Texas2,351California2,123Florida2,077Alaska1,796Washington1,004Ohio731Georgia719Minnesota686North Carolina674Arizona659

By state, as a table

	aircraft
Texas	2,351
California	2,123
Florida	2,077
Alaska	1,796
Washington	1,004
Ohio	731
Georgia	719
Minnesota	686
North Carolina	674
Arizona	659

Kind of aircraft

Piston singles26,597 (97%)Piston twins414 (2%)Helicopters303 (1%)Gliders1 (0.0%)

By kind, as a table

	aircraft	share
Piston singles	26,597	97%
Piston twins	414	2%
Helicopters	303	1%
Gliders	1	0.0%

When the aircraft were built by decade

By decade built, as a table

	aircraft
1930	5
1940	234
1950	2,383
1960	5,444
1970	11,405
1980	1,935
1990	1,132
2000	831
2010	99
2020	55

What the FAA has certified, ordered and been told about the Lycoming O-320 series the component layer

The design is held under 1 type certificate (E-274, held by Lycoming Engines). The FAA has issued 29 airworthiness directives (orders that owners must comply with) that name this engine series. Operators and repair shops have filed 349 failure reports with the FAA since 1995, 19 of them in the last ten years.

FAA orders 29 airworthiness directives · newest first

2026-04-082026-04-11 · Engine (Reciprocating) · engine

2024-12-052024-21-02 · Engine (Reciprocating) · engine

2022-08-152022-16-03 · Engine (RECIPROCATING) · engine

2012-03-272012-03-07 · Carburetor · engine

2008-10-202008-19-05 · Parallel Valve'' reciprocating engines · engine

2006-01-312005-26-10 · ECi cylinder assemblies. · engine

All orders naming the Lycoming O-320 series

Failure reports 349 since · what operators and shops told the FAA

Failure reports by year, as a table

	reports
95	2
96	1
97	2
98	6
00	7
01	39
02	24
03	39
04	30
05	41
06	23
07	32
08	18
09	15
10	13
11	7
12	10
13	4
14	6
15	2
16	9
17	1
18	6
19	1
20	3
21	1
23	2
25	1
26	4

Parts most often reported as the reports name them

Spar18Tube17Cylinder15Bulkhead9Alternator8Control Cable8Bolt7Carburetor7Fitting6Float6

Parts most reported, as a table

	reports
Spar	18
Tube	17
Cylinder	15
Bulkhead	9
Alternator	8
Control Cable	8
Bolt	7
Carburetor	7
Fitting	6
Float	6

Latest reports

2026-09-03Gascolator: dirty

2026-05-19Impulse Coupling: unserviceable

2026-03-10Cylinder Head: cracked

2026-03-05Cylinder: cracked

2025-11-24Cylinder: cracked

Certificates and bulletins

E-274Type certificate held by Lycoming Engines · 60 models listed · revised April 30, 2013

Safety bulletins 17 · advice, not orders

2022-09-26NE-06-31R6 · Engine Lubricating Oils

2019-05-02NE-19-08 · Reciprocating Engine Cylinder Section - Lycoming Engines Parallel Valve Cylinders

2016-05-13NE-08-32R1 · Propeller Governor Idler Gear Shaft Set Screw

2014-03-24NE-14-13 · Reciprocating Engine - Cylinder Mounting Studs

2012-11-21NE-13-06 · Pushrod Shroud Spring Retainers, Engine Components Part No. AEL14995, for Lycoming Engines 320,...

Sources: the FAA's type certificate data sheets, airworthiness directives, supplemental type certificates, special conditions and special airworthiness information bulletins (Dynamic Regulatory System), and the FAA's service difficulty reports. A failure report is what an operator or repair station chose to file; the counts show reporting as much as reliability, and larger and commercial fleets report more. How the systems are grouped.

Connections how this engine series links to the rest of the register

Fitted to

Cessna 172 Skyhawk 9,462 with this engine series
Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 6,844 with this engine series
Piper PA-18 Super Cub 2,393 with this engine series
Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer and Colt 1,660 with this engine series
Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5 Traveler, Cheetah and Tiger 566 with this engine series
Bellanca 7 Citabria 563 with this engine series
Cessna 177 Cardinal 398 with this engine series
Piper PA-23 Apache and Aztec 347 with this engine series

Where they are

Texas 2,351 of these aircraft
California 2,123 of these aircraft
Florida 2,077 of these aircraft
Alaska 1,796 of these aircraft
Washington 1,004 of these aircraft

Biggest operators

Wings Over Texas Holdings LLC 107 of these aircraft
American Patrols INC 61 of these aircraft
Paris Air INC 33 of these aircraft
Civil Air Patrol INC 33 of these aircraft
International Air Services INC Trustee 30 of these aircraft

Airworthiness

FAA orders naming the Lycoming O-320 series 29 airworthiness directives
Failure reports on the Lycoming O-320 series 349 reports since 1995

Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/engine/lycoming-o-320-series.json.

Aircraft newest certificates first · 27,315

Tail no.	Maker and model	Group	Owner and base	Certificate	Registered	Status
N172ML	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hampton Flying Services LLC Portsmouth, New Hampshire	Standard	2016-11-04	Valid
N19610	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-11-04	Valid
N234WA	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Wiseman Aviation INC Flagstaff, Arizona	Standard	2016-11-04	Valid
N345WA	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Wiseman Aviation INC Flagstaff, Arizona	Standard	2016-11-04	Valid
N42FY	Jones Michael PURPLE PEOPLE SEATER	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Experimental	2016-11-04	Valid
N872FC	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Blackhawk Holding CORP Wilmington, Delaware	Standard	2016-11-04	Valid
N8961V	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hampton Flying Services LLC Portsmouth, New Hampshire	Standard	2016-11-04	Valid
N8TB	Buesing Lowell D LANCAIR 320	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Maine	Experimental	2016-11-04	Valid
N119DC	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Florida	Multiple	2016-11-03	Valid
N2680Z	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Massachusetts	Standard	2016-11-03	Valid
N33148	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Tennessee	Standard	2016-11-03	Valid
N6058W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-11-03	Valid
N4151H	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-11-02	Valid
N5271X	Champion 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2016-11-02	Valid
N62444	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2016-11-02	Valid
N824JT	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Multiple	2016-11-02	Valid
N8321R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alabama	Standard	2016-11-02	Valid
N55605	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2016-11-01	Valid
N7100E	Champion 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Standard	2016-11-01	Valid
N737KW	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Jcil LLC Hudsonville, Michigan	Standard	2016-11-01	Valid
N108DW	Webster David SAFARI	Rotorcraft	Individual owner Iowa	Experimental	2016-10-31	Valid
N172MD	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Dc Aerial Photos INC Fredericksburg, Virginia	Standard	2016-10-31	Valid
N53966	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Standard	2016-10-31	Valid
N1774P	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2016-10-28	Valid
N7010G	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Stavair LLC Gulf Breeze, Florida	Standard	2016-10-28	Valid
N19Z	Cruikshank Bruce M RV-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Experimental	2016-10-27	Valid
N4448Z	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2016-10-27	Valid
N46713	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2016-10-27	Valid
N5149V	Morrisey 2150A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-10-27	Valid
N518AC	American Champion Aircraft 7GCAA	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2016-10-27	Valid
N7262F	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-10-27	Valid
N73435	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Air America Spares LLC Daytona Beach, Florida	Standard	2016-10-27	Valid
N9868W	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2016-10-27	Valid
N905WA	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	My Way Aviation LLC Weston, Florida	Standard	2016-10-26	Valid
N13BV	Vasey Bob RV3	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2016-10-25	Valid
N174PC	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Oregon	Standard	2016-10-25	Valid
N6451R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner South Dakota	Standard	2016-10-25	Valid
N734BQ	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Tri State Aviation INC Wahpeton, North Dakota	Standard	2016-10-25	Valid
N739RB	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Sieger INC Fairview, Tennessee	Standard	2016-10-25	Valid
N9690D	Piper PA-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Hoffner Flying INC Yankton, South Dakota	Standard	2016-10-25	Valid
N46642	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	1028 Flying Club LLC Statesville, North Carolina	Standard	2016-10-24	Valid
N8458R	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Iowa	Standard	2016-10-24	Valid
N15649	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Standard	2016-10-21	Valid
N50YR	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Minnesota	Standard	2016-10-21	Valid
N3369E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Connecticut	Standard	2016-10-20	Valid
N46532	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Obx Airplanes LLC Manteo, North Carolina	Standard	2016-10-20	Valid
N5878L	American AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-10-20	Valid
N701L	Gokey J G RV6A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Texas	Experimental	2016-10-20	Valid
N739VT	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alabama	Standard	2016-10-19	Valid
N5130W	Piper PA-28-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner South Carolina	Standard	2016-10-18	Valid
N6037D	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-10-18	Valid
N7468L	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Standard	2016-10-18	Valid
N226AK	Avions Pierre Robin PIERRE ROBIN R2160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Robin216 LLC Canton, Ohio	Standard	2016-10-17	Valid
N3264T	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2016-10-17	Valid
N4683T	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Jersey	Standard	2016-10-17	Valid
N64180	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Spanaflight LLC Puyallup, Washington	Standard	2016-10-17	Valid
N733AQ	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Crankshaft Aviation LLC Pine River, Minnesota	Standard	2016-10-17	Valid
N84827	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2016-10-17	Valid
N737PV	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Battle Creek Powersports LLC Jasper, Tennessee	Standard	2016-10-14	Valid
N738JW	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-10-14	Valid
N14329	Piper PA-18-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Standard	2016-10-13	Valid
N7352D	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2016-10-13	Valid
N80602	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New Mexico	Standard	2016-10-13	Valid
N3909Q	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Adventure Seaplanes LLC Tower, Minnesota	Standard	2016-10-12	Valid
N43206	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Washington	Standard	2016-10-12	Valid
N73294	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	G and G Maintenance CORP Miami, Florida	Standard	2016-10-12	Valid
N8871N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2016-10-12	Valid
N78139	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Van Straten Patrick F Shiocton, Wisconsin	Standard	2016-10-11	Valid
N8516F	Piper PA-28-151	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Pennsylvania	Standard	2016-10-11	Valid
N9512D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Ohio	Standard	2016-10-11	Valid
N434DS	Solinger Doug COZY	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Colorado	Experimental	2016-10-07	Valid
N75944	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Dakota	Standard	2016-10-07	Valid
N177PZ	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2016-10-06	Valid
N2617Q	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2016-10-05	Valid
N5131E	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Illinois	Standard	2016-10-05	Valid
N504BB	Bellanca 7GCBC	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Experimental	2016-10-04	Valid
N1205U	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Arizona	Standard	2016-09-30	Valid
N6903Q	Beech A23-19	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Mississippi	Standard	2016-09-30	Valid
N522DC	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner California	Standard	2016-09-29	Valid
N5485L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner North Carolina	Standard	2016-09-29	Valid
N75754	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Georgia	Standard	2016-09-29	Valid
N9577L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2016-09-29	Valid
N26142	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5A	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2016-09-28	Valid
N64966	Cessna 172P	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Virginia	Standard	2016-09-28	Valid
N21745	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Bellingham Aviation Services LLC Bellingham, Washington	Standard	2016-09-27	Valid
N3171T	Cessna 177	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2016-09-27	Valid
N5125D	Cessna 172M	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Florida	Standard	2016-09-27	Valid
N5433L	Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner California	Standard	2016-09-27	Valid
N738NT	Cessna 172N	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Louisiana	Standard	2016-09-27	Valid
N87806	Piper PA-12	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Idaho	Standard	2016-09-27	Valid
N3033T	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Purdue Pilots INC West Lafayette, Indiana	Standard	2016-09-26	Valid
N3499P	Piper PA-23-160	Fixed-wing, multi-engine	Tinny Twister Aviation LLC Fort Myers, Florida	Standard	2016-09-26	Valid
N3746M	Piper PA-28-161	Fixed-wing, single engine	Paris Air INC Vero Beach, Florida	Standard	2016-09-26	Valid
N8192N	Piper PA-28-140	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Wisconsin	Standard	2016-09-26	Valid
N2518A	Piper PA-18	Fixed-wing, single engine	Co-owned owner Alaska	Multiple	2016-09-22	Valid
N3005Z	Piper PA-22-150	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2016-09-22	Valid
N40VV	Diehl William A S-4	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner Alaska	Experimental	2016-09-22	Valid
N8126D	Piper PA-22-160	Fixed-wing, single engine	Individual owner New York	Standard	2016-09-22	Valid
N84717	Cessna 172K	Fixed-wing, single engine	Worldwide Warbirds INC Heber City, Utah	Standard	2016-09-22	Valid
N19736	Cessna 172L	Fixed-wing, single engine	Friendship Mark Topanga, California	Standard	2016-09-21	Valid

Source: FAA Civil Aviation Registry, Releasable Aircraft Database (the engine reference table and each aircraft's engine code), October 9, 2026. Horsepower and thrust are the FAA's figures for the series, not for a particular aircraft.

	reports
95	2
96	1
97	2
98	6
00	7
01	39
02	24
03	39
04	30
05	41
06	23
07	32
08	18
09	15
10	13
11	7
12	10
13	4
14	6
15	2
16	9
17	1
18	6
19	1
20	3
21	1
23	2
25	1
26	4

	reports
95	2
96	1
97	2
98	6
00	7
01	39
02	24
03	39
04	30
05	41
06	23
07	32
08	18
09	15
10	13
11	7
12	10
13	4
14	6
15	2
16	9
17	1
18	6
19	1
20	3
21	1
23	2
25	1
26	4

	reports
95	2
96	1
97	2
98	6
00	7
01	39
02	24
03	39
04	30
05	41
06	23
07	32
08	18
09	15
10	13
11	7
12	10
13	4
14	6
15	2
16	9
17	1
18	6
19	1
20	3
21	1
23	2
25	1
26	4